Inergy Reports Record Annual Results.Management Conference Call Scheduled for 10:00 a.m. CT Today KANSAS CITY Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , Mo. -- Inergy, L.P. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :NRGY) and Inergy Holdings, L.P. (NASDAQ:NRGP) today each reported results of operations for the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2006. Inergy, L.P. Inergy, L.P. (Inergy) reported Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) A metric used to show a company's profitability, but not its cash flow. EBITDA became popular in the 1980s to show the potential profitability of leveraged buyouts, but has become of $175.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2006, an increase of approximately 57.3% from $111.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2005. Distributable cash flow per unit on a fully distributed Fully distributed A new stock issue that has been completely resold to the investing public and is no longer held by dealers. fully distributed Of or relating to a new issue of securities that has been sold out. basis increased approximately 13.4% to $2.28 per diluted di·lute tr.v. di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes 1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water. 2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture. limited partner unit in 2006 from $2.01 per diluted limited partner unit in 2005. Distributable cash flow was $119.4 million in fiscal 2006 compared to $75.4 million in fiscal 2005. Net income excluding certain items was $41.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2006, or $0.55 per diluted limited partner unit (exclusions include the recognition of $20.0 million of non-cash charges Non-Cash Charge A charge off, made by a company against earnings, that does not require an initial outlay of cash. Notes: Non-cash charges are typically against the depreciation, amortization, and depletion accounts on a company's balance sheet. from derivative derivative: see calculus. derivative In mathematics, a fundamental concept of differential calculus representing the instantaneous rate of change of a function. contracts associated with retail propane propane, CH3CH2CH3, colorless, gaseous alkane. It is readily liquefied by compression and cooling. It melts at −189.9°C; and boils at −42.2°C;. fixed price sales which previously resulted in mark-to-market Mark-to-market Adjustment of the book value or collateral value of a security to reflect current market value. , non-cash gains in fiscal 2005 and a loss of $11.4 million on the disposal of excess property, plant and equipment). Net income for fiscal 2005 was $26.9 million or $0.60 per diluted limited partner unit (excluding the $19.4 million non-cash gain associated with derivative contracts, a $7.0 million net charge to earnings associated with the early retirement of debt in December 2004, and a $0.7 million loss on the disposal of excess property, plant and equipment). As previously announced, the Board of Directors of Inergy's general partner increased Inergy's quarterly cash distribution to $0.555 per limited partner unit ($2.22 annually) for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. This represents an approximate 6.7% increase over the distribution for the same quarter of the prior year. The distribution was paid on November 14, 2006. "These outstanding fiscal 2006 results speak for themselves in that we achieved our financial objectives on behalf of our unitholders despite facing a challenging operating environment In computing, an operating environment is the environment in which users run programs, whether in a command line interface, such as in MS-DOS or the Unix shell, or in a graphical user interface, such as in the Macintosh operating system. ," said John Sherman John Sherman can refer to:
For fiscal 2006, Inergy closed ten acquisitions. All of the acquisitions are expected to be accretive on a distributable cash flow per unit basis. "Looking forward to fiscal 2007, Inergy is well positioned to continue to consolidate the highly fragmented frag·ment n. 1. A small part broken off or detached. 2. An incomplete or isolated portion; a bit: overheard fragments of their conversation; extant fragments of an old manuscript. 3. propane industry and invest significant capital in high return, organic growth projects in our midstream mid·stream n. 1. The middle part of a stream. 2. The part of a course that is neither at the beginning nor at the end: the midstream of life. Noun 1. segment," said Mr. Sherman. Inergy also reiterates its previously announced earnings guidance for the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. Below is a table reconciling forecasted Adjusted EBITDA to net income: [TABLE OMITTED] Fiscal Year End Results Retail propane gallon gallon: see English units of measurement. sales increased 13.2% to 360.3 million gallons for the year ended September 30, 2006, compared to 318.4 million gallons sold in 2005. Retail propane gross profit, excluding the $20.0 million non-cash charges on derivative contracts discussed above, increased to $300.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $232.5 million in 2005, excluding the $19.4 million non-cash gain discussed above. Gross profit from other propane operations, including wholesale, appliances, service, transportation, distillates and other was $74.5 million in the year ended September 30, 2006, compared to $56.0 million in 2005. Gross profit from midstream operations for the year ended September 30, 2006, was $42.0 million compared to $18.0 million in the prior year. Operating and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2006, were $248.1 million compared to $197.1 million in the same period of 2005. During 2006, a loss of $11.4 million was recognized on the write-down and disposal of certain tanks, vehicles, and properties deemed to be surplus or non-performing. These assets were identified as part of the final integration of nearly $1 billion of businesses acquired over the past two years. The majority of this recognition occurred in the fourth quarter of 2006. Fourth Quarter Results Inergy reported Adjusted EBITDA of $10.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $6.1 million from $4.0 million reported in the fourth quarter of last year. Net loss for the quarter (excluding the recognition of $0.4 million of non-cash charges from derivative contracts associated with retail propane fixed price sales and a loss of $9.0 million on the disposal of excess property, plant and equipment) was $(21.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Excluding a $19.4 million non-cash gain associated with derivative contracts and a $0.5 million charge on the disposal of excess property, plant and equipment, net loss in the three months ended September 30, 2005, was $(22.1) million. Due to the seasonal nature of the propane industry, Inergy typically reports a quarterly loss in its fourth fiscal quarter. Net loss per limited partner unit excluding the items discussed above for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, was $(0.58) per diluted limited partner unit, compared to $(0.73) per diluted limited partner unit in the same period of the prior year. In the quarter ended September 30, 2006, retail propane gallon sales increased 2.3% to 49.8 million gallons compared to 48.7 million gallons sold in the same quarter of the prior year. Retail propane gross profit, excluding the non-cash gain/loss on derivative contracts discussed above, increased to $39.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $31.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Gross profit from other propane operations, including wholesale, appliances, service, transportation, distillates and other was $17.5 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2006, compared to $15.4 million for the same quarter in the prior year. Gross profit from midstream operations was $11.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, compared to $8.0 million for the same quarter in the prior year. For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, operating and administrative expenses were $59.5 million compared to $51.0 million in the same period of fiscal 2005. Inergy Holdings, L.P. As discussed above, the $0.555 per limited partner unit distribution by Inergy, L.P. resulted in Inergy Holdings, L.P. receiving a total distribution of $8.2 million with respect to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2006. As a result of this Inergy, L.P. distribution, Inergy Holdings, L.P. declared a quarterly distribution of $0.375 per limited partner unit or $1.50 on an annualized annualized Of or relating to a variable that has been mathematically converted to a yearly rate. Inflation and interest rates are generally annualized since it is on this basis that these two variables are ordinarily stated and compared. basis. This represents an approximate 39% increase over the $0.27 per limited partner unit paid for the same quarter of the prior year. The distribution was paid on November 14, 2006. Inergy, L.P. and Inergy Holdings, L.P. will conduct a live conference call and internet webcast today, December 4, 2006, to discuss results of operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year end and its business outlook. The call will begin at 10:00 a.m. CT. The call-in number for the earnings call is 1-877-405-3427, and the conference name is Inergy, L.P. The live internet webcast and the replay can be accessed on Inergy's website, www.inergypropane.com. A digital recording of the call will be available for the two weeks following the call by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the pass code 9668071. Inergy, L.P., with headquarters in Kansas City, MO, is among the fastest growing master limited partnerships in the country. The company's operations include the retail marketing, sale and distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers. Today, Inergy serves approximately 700,000 retail customers from over 300 customer service centers throughout the eastern half of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The company also operates a natural gas storage business and a supply logistics, transportation and wholesale marketing business that serves independent dealers and multi-state marketers in the United States and Canada. Inergy Holdings, L.P.'s assets consist of its ownership interest in Inergy, L.P., including limited partnership interests, ownership of the general partners, and the incentive distribution rights. This press release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. , which are statements that are not historical in nature such as our business outlook. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize ma·te·ri·al·ize v. ma·te·ri·al·ized, ma·te·ri·al·iz·ing, ma·te·ri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To cause to become real or actual: By building the house, we materialized a dream. , or any underlying assumption proves incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements are: weather conditions that vary significantly from historically normal conditions
A "Captain's Mast", held by a commanding officer of a warship is one such proceeding. against us or which may be brought against us. These and other risks and assumptions are described in Inergy's annual reports on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and other reports that are available from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] (a) EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before taxes, plus net interest expense (inclusive of inclusive of prep. Taking into consideration or account; including. write-off of deferred financing costs) and depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding (1) non-cash gains or losses on derivative contracts associated with fixed price sales to retail propane customers, (2) long-term incentive (one-time conversion bonuses) and equity compensation expense and (3) gains or losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, income before income taxes, cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance Accordance is Bible Study Software for Macintosh developed by OakTree Software, Inc.[] As well as a standalone program, it is the base software packaged by Zondervan in their Bible Study suites for Macintosh. with generally accepted accounting principles The standard accounting rules, regulations, and procedures used by companies in maintaining their financial records. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provide companies and accountants with a consistent set of guidelines that cover both broad accounting as those items are used to measure operating performance, liquidity or ability to service debt obligations. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are presented because such information is relevant and is used by management, industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies to assess the financial performance and operating results of our fundamental business activities. We believe that the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is useful to lenders and investors because of their use in the propane industry and for master limited partnerships as an indicator of the strength and performance of the ongoing business operations Business operations are those activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders. Compare business processes. The outcome of business operations is the harvesting of value from assets , including the ability to fund capital expenditures, service debt and pay distributions. Additionally, we believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to our investors for trending, analyzing and benchmarking our operating results as compared to other companies that may have different financing and capital structures. The presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA allow investors to view our performance in a manner similar to the methods used by management and provide additional insight to our operating results. (b) Cash interest expense is net of amortization charges associated with deferred financing costs. Write-off of deferred financing costs for the year ended September 30, 2005 includes $1.5 million from the early retirement of a bank credit facility and $5.5 million associated with the incurrence In`cur´rence n. 1. The act of incurring, bringing on, or subjecting one's self to (something troublesome or burdensome); as, the incurrence of guilt, debt, responsibility, etc. s> Noun 1. and write-off in December 2004 of commitment and funding fees associated with the bridge financing Bridge Financing A method of financing, used by companies before their IPO, to obtain necessary cash for the maintenance of operations. Notes: These funds are usually supplied by the investment bank underwriting the new issue. facility utilized in the Star Gas Propane, L.P. acquisition. (c) Maintenance capital expenditures are defined as those capital expenditures which do not increase operating capacity or revenues from existing levels. (d) Distributable cash flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, less cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and income taxes. We believe that distributable cash flow provides additional information for evaluating Inergy's ability to declare and pay distributions to unitholders. Distributable cash flow should not be considered an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Distributable cash flow, as we define it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures used by other corporations and partnerships. [TABLE OMITTED] |
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